It Takes Two

Chapter 5

“Why would you do that? She was perfect for you, Dad. You practically said so yourself.”

Eric gave his daughter a look. “I don’t expect for you to understand, but it never would have worked out. I have to be sensible here, love. She lives too far away, and long distance relationships never last. Letting her in will cause nothing but heartache for us, and I’m always going to put you girls first.”

Olivia threw her hands up. “Why do grown ups always have to make everything so difficult? What’s wrong with living in the moment? The women here are terrible, you know that. You won’t find anyone else like her. Maybe she would end up moving here, you don’t know what could happen. I know you try not to show it around us, but we see how miserable you are. We just want you to be happy.”

He took her in his arms, noticing that Emma joined them a second later. “As long as I have the two of you, I’m the happiest man in the world. Sookie is a wonderful person and in the time that I’ve gotten to know her, she would make an amazing mother, but that’s not being realistic. Yes, you never know what could happen in the long run, but if it ends in a disaster, is it really worth the risk? Is it worth getting your hearts broken?”

“What about your heart, Daddy?” Emma said, placing her little hand over his chest.

Eric felt himself tear up just from that one gesture.

“We don’t want you sad anymore.”

He kissed her cheek, shaking his head. “You don’t have to worry about me, sweetheart. It’s my job to worry about you. My mind is made up, this is for the best.”

Olivia groaned, jumping off the couch and over to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

Eric sighed, turning back to his angel, who was peering up at him with her big, blue eyes. “Your sister will come around eventually, God help me when she’s officially a teenager. You’ll stay my little girl for as long as you can, right?”

Emma shrugged, sticking her thumb in her mouth.

He smiled, kissing her cheek once again. “That’s all I can hope for.”

* * * * *

Sookie got back to her room after a long day in the city, completely exhausted and wanting nothing more than to take a hot shower. She was having a horrible time ever since Eric walked out, but tried to make the best of her remaining stay there.

A knock sounded on the door before she could get undressed, confused as to who it could be. Sookie went to answer it, shocked by her sudden visitor. “Olivia? What are you doing here?” She let the girl into the room, closing the door.

“My dad thinks I’m at a friend’s house, but I took a detour. I needed to talk to you.”

Now Sookie was concerned, she grasped Olivia’s hand and sat her down on the bed. “Sweetie, you shouldn’t be coming here by yourself without letting your father know. He’ll be worried sick once he finds out. I have to call him.”

“No!” Olivia cried in a panic. “I don’t want him to know I’m here. I can’t talk to him about this stuff. Please, just let me stay for a little while. It’ll be a couple of hours before he even realizes I’m not with my friend.”

“What stuff?” Sookie wondered, more concern written all over her features.

Olivia glanced away, suddenly embarrassed. “My aunt told me this would happen when I got older, but she tends to be too detailed at times, and my dad cut her off before she could say too much. I love her and all, but she doesn’t know how to ease us into things. As my dad says, she doesn’t have one maternal bone in her body.”

This woman definitely intrigued Sookie the more she heard about her, but it didn’t take long to realize what Olivia was referring to. “Oh, you mean you got your period for the first time?”

Her cheeks heated up, hating that she couldn’t just come out and say it.

“Honey, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. This happens at all different ages, I was fourteen when I got mine. I was starting to think that something was wrong with me because my friends were all younger; I actually got teased for being a late bloomer. Of course, when it did finally come, I started to regret wanting it so badly. I’ll take you to the store to pick up what you’ll need, okay? You could have talked to your father about this, he knows what to expect. I could just imagine how hard it will be for him, but he’ll understand.”

Olivia felt tears sting her eyes, quickly wiping them away. “I don’t have anyone to talk to. I love my dad, but I can’t come to him with this. It’s something I need a mother for, and mine was gone before I even knew it. She’ll never get to see me grow up. He’s doing the best he can, but there are some things he can’t help me with. Jimmy has been picking on me in school, and I need a mother to tell me boys do that when they like you, or tell me it’s okay to pick on him back. My dad will freak if he thinks I’m already starting to like boys, and now this? I don’t know what to do. That’s why I liked having you around. You don’t treat us like an inconvenience, only nice to get on my dad’s good side. This one lady he dated was so fake. She was all sweet to us when he was there, but the second he turned his back, she would let her true colors show. You’re real, and that’s what he needs right now, but he’s too stubborn to see it.”

Sookie took in a deep breath. “I can understand his decision. It most likely wouldn’t have worked out; I’m only here for a few more days.”

She rolled her eyes. “Perfect, now you sound like him. If you really wanted to be together, you would find a way to make it work. I think you’re both just running scared. You started to feel things that you’ve never felt before, and it terrified you. That’s no way for anyone to live.”

“Seriously, how are you only twelve? Where do you learn this stuff?”

Olivia shrugged. “I read a lot, and I watch Oprah.”

Sookie laughed. “That would explain it. All right, let’s get going to the store, and then I have to take you home. I love that you wanted to see me, but running away is never the answer. Don’t do this again, you hear me?” She was worried that she came off too harsh, but Olivia only smiled.

“My dad was right; you’d make a great mother.” She stood up, heading over to the door

Sookie was stunned by what the girl said, following after her when the shock wore off. It was going to be a long night.